High ARC tracking-index poly(phenylene oxide)-liquid crystalline poly

Abstract

Blends of theremotropic liquid crystalline polymers and unfunctionalized poly(phenylene oxides) and a non-conductive filler, in which the dispersed phase domain size preferably is relatively small and present in discrete particles. These blends have excellent comparative tracking index and can be used as molded articles in electronics or electrical applications.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. An electronic or electrical apparatus, comprising: 
       a component comprising:  
       a polymer blend comprising:  
       (a) about 50 to 95 weight percent, based on total weight of components (a) and (b), of poly(phenylene oxide);  
       (b) about 5 to 50 weight percent, based on total weight of components (a) and (b), of thermotropic liquid crystalline polymer; and  
       (c) non-conductive filler, in an amount sufficient to increase the comparative tracking index (CTI) rating of the polymer blend to above 220 volts.  
     
     
       2. A circuit breaker comprising: 
       a polymer blend comprising:  
       (a) about 50 to 95 weight percent, based on total weight of components (a) and (b), of poly(phenylene oxide);  
       (b) about 5 to 50 weight percent, based on total weight of components (a) and (b), of thermotropic liquid crystalline polymer; and  
       (c) non-conductive filler, in an amount sufficient to increase the comparative tracking index (CTI) rating of the polymer blend to above 220 volts.  
     
     
       3. An electronic or electrical apparatus, comprising: 
       a component comprising:  
       a polymer blend comprising:  
       (a) about 50 to 95 weight percent, based on total weight of components (a) and (b), of poly(phenylene oxide);  
       (b) about 5 to 50 weight percent, based on total weight of components (a) and (b), of thermotropic liquid crystalline polymer; and  
       (c) non-conductive filler, in an amount sufficient to increase the comparative tracking index (CTI) rating of the polymer blend to above 220 volts,  
        wherein said non-conductive filler is present in an amount of about 30 to 40 weight percent, based on the total weight of the polymer blend, said non-conductive filler comprises titanium dioxide and calcium sulfate, and said titanium dioxide is present in an amount of about 5 to 10 weight percent, based on the total weight of the polymer blend.  
     
     
       4. An electronic or electrical apparatus, comprising: 
       a component comprising:  
       a polymer blend comprising:  
       (a) about 50 to 95 weight percent, based on total weight of components (a) and (b), of poly(phenylene oxide);  
       (b) about 5 to 50 weight percent, based on total weight of components (a) and (b), of thermotropic liquid crystalline polymer; and  
       (c) non-conductive filler, in an amount sufficient to increase the comparative tracking index (CTI) rating of the polymer blend to above 220 volts,  
        said polymer blend further comprising at least one fluorescent optical brightener in an amount of greater than 0.005 wt. % of the total weight of the polymer blend, said brightener having one or more moieties derived from substituted anchracene, stilbene, triazine, thiazole, benzoxazole, coumarin, xanthene, triazole, oxazole, thiophene or pyrazoline, and having a boiling point T bp >T m −60 C, where T m  is the melting point of the liquid crystalline polymer.